MCO Issues Alert For Holiday Travel To Disney World Just Days Into Busiest Week of The Year

Ah, it’s that time of year again. The joy of traveling to see family members, or even better, heading down to the Walt Disney World Resort in Central Florida. For those in the cold, it’s a much-needed respite from the snow and wind, and for everyone, it’s a chance to spend the holidays at the Happy Place on Earth. But this year, you can expect massive crowds, and the stress of traveling just got worse.

Related: The Debate Rages, When Does the Christmas Season Begin? 

Orlando International Airport issued a travel alert for anyone heading to Central Florida this year, just days into the busiest week of the year. According to Click Orlando, MCO expects more than 3.9 million travelers to visit Central Florida this year, a 13.5 percent increase over last year. This season’s busiest travel day will be December 30, with more than 187,000 people expected at Orlando International Airport.

In a statement, leaders at MCO said that travelers should follow the 3-2-1 rule. Get to the ticket counter three hours early, to security two hours early, and to your gate one hour early. Airport officials also encourage travelers to pack light and ensure they don’t pack any prohibited items. When in doubt, check the TSA website.

Travelers renting a car should also expect long waits at the rental counters. During the Thanksgiving holiday, many travelers complained about long delays for ride-sharing cars, but MCO has created a new parking area, which they hope will alleviate those issues.

Crowds at Walt Disney World

Once you navigate the crowds at the Orlando Airport, you then have to navigate the crowds at the Walt Disney World Resort. You can expect that Disney’s Parks will be crowded throughout the week of Christmas and into the New Year. Look at any crowd calendar, and you’ll see that this is black, meaning wall-to-wall people.

If your plan to avoid the crowds involves purchasing Disney Genie Plus, you should expect to pay top dollar for the Lightning Lane passes. Disney World has raised the price of Genie Plus to its highest level ever. The price for Genie Plus at the Magic Kingdom and multi-park pass is $39. The price for Hollywood Studios is $35, EPCOT is $32, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom is $29. This tops the previous high of $35 during the 2023 Spring break.

And make sure that you get those dinner reservations, although it is probably too late if you don’t already have one. You may end up just snacking on a turkey leg. But even if you don’t get a turkey dinner, you can wander around Disney World and enjoy the holiday offerings and the decorations. It is the most wonderful time of the year at the Happiest Place on Earth. Enjoy your Christmas and New Year at the Walt Disney World Resort.